ROME — The current issue of Fraternitas highlights the election of Fr. Gabriel Mathias, OFM, Provincial Vicar of St. Thomas the Apostle Province in India, to the General Council. Fr. Gabriel will complete the term of Fr. Paskalis Syukur, OFM, who was recently appointed bishop of Bogor in Indonesia by Pope Francis.
The first Indian to be elected a General Councilor, Fr. Gabriel has served the Order in both national and international capacities. His resume has been posted on the English-speaking Conference’s website.
Fr. Paskalis’s episcopal consecration will take place Feb. 21 in Indonesia. He will be installed as bishop of Bogor on Feb. 22.
In other news, General Minister Fr. Michael Perry, OFM, visited the “Istanbul Project” that began 10 years ago in Turkey. The project opened with a vigil in memory of the presence of the Friars Minor in Turkey. The friars’ ministry there started in the 13th century and has been carried out in several ways: as a mission, apostolic prefecture, missionary custody and now an international fraternity for dialogue.
A DVD has been produced to celebrate the ministry’s 10th anniversary. Copies are available in English and other languages, and can be requested by emailing rtierrablanca@ofm.org.
The monthly OFM newsletter also reports on:
• A new app dedicated to St. Francis
• “The Excluded and Human Rights: Toward a Church for the Poor,” a JPIC course being offered in Rome from April 29 to May 9
• The General Minister’s schedule, including visits to Poland, China, India and Indonesia
Past issues of Fraternitas can be found on the Publications page of the Order’s website.
— Compiled by Maria Hayes